Petroleum prospect re-evaluation of the Nigerian sector of the Chad (Bornu) Basin using high-resolution aeromagnetic data

Abstract Basin-scale airborne magnetic data were interpreted over one of Nigeria’s inland basins, the Bornu Basin, located in the country’s NE, to re-evaluate and appraise the basin’s hydrocarbon potential by estimating depth-to-basement, delineating lineaments, and mapping basement geometry. Various data processing approaches, targeted at anomaly transformation and signal-to-noise ratio improvement, were applied to the pre-processed data. These include the reduction to pole and Analytic Signal for anomaly transformations, 3-D Located Euler Deconvolution for depth estimates, and tilt derivatives for lineament extraction. Results from the Analytic Signal and Euler Deconvolution suggest that volcanic intrusions within the Northern Benue Trough’s Gongola arm extended into the Bornu Basin to the north. The lengths of the extracted linear structures range from 10 to 150 km, trending ENE–WSW primarily. Six sub-basins, two of which are considered dominant in extent, are identified in the eastern and central portions of the study area. They contain sediments about 2.5 – ≈ 6 km thick in places and are crosscut by significant structures. The study has identified two highly prospective sub-basins characterised by significant thickness, regional structural intersections, and closeness to volcanic intrusions. The identified deep sub-basins are characterised by significant sedimentary thickness, regional structural intersections, and proximity to volcanic intrusions. These factors suggest areas that may be favourable for hydrocarbon accumulation and warrant further investigation using integrated geophysical, geological, and geochemical approaches.